Frank E Adams (shortened from Adamson) (1884-1971)

ADAMS, ADAMSON

Posted By: Tina Keister (email)
Date: 2/22/2012 at 13:23:36

Frank Edward Adams was born in Grant Township, Boone County, Iowa on May 19, 1884, the oldest of five children born to Joseph Adamson (18857-1940) and his wife Augusta Johanna (Holst) Adamson (1856-1929). The father was born near Swede Bend northeast of here and the mother was born in Australia, immigrating to this county in 1867 with her parents. After their marriage in 1883, they settled on a farm in Section 22 Grant Township. They retired in 1898 and moved into Pilot Mound where they are both buried.
Frank Adams was raised and educated here in Grant Township in the Osceola School District and later attended the old Highland Park College of Music in Lake County, Illinois. He learned the barbering trade in Pilot Mound, Iowa and came back to Boxholm in 1906 and started barbering in the hotel building .He shortly thereafter moved to a rented building on the south side of main street (presently the vacant lot west of Larry Krakau’s office) and continued barbering there until about 1918 when he built the brick building next door east.
Mr Adams (who shortened his name from the original Adamson) also was engaged in the jewelry and watch repair business in this same building. Prior to taking up the jewelry business about 1915 in conjunction with his barbering. Mr Adams sold motorcycles. In his younger days, Mr Adams was quite a motorcycling enthusiast and along with a dozen or so other Grant Township riders, had a motorcycle club and held races both over rough country roads and at county fairs. Also through the years, he continued to use his musical talents on the violin, of which he was an accomplished player. He was widely known for his violin solo work and also had a reputation as a bass singer. Many of his barbershop customers were serenaded upon occasion.
Mr Adams was twice married. He was first married on March 2, 1910, to Miss Esther Olive Fredrickson. She was born here in Grant Township on Jan 21, 1888, one of nine children born to Olof J Fredrickson (1848-1908) and his wife Hansina (Olson) Fredrickson (1850-1934). The father was a native of Sweden and the mother of Norway. They immigrated separately, both about 1872. They were married in 1875 and came to Grant Township in 1876 and settled in Section 30 where they farmed for the rest of their livers. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery east of Boxholm.
On March 3, 1934, he was married to Miss Delia T Wilson. She was also born here in Grant Township, on April 25, 1888, one of 10 children born to Louis Wilson (1849-1932) and his wife Elizabeth (Olson) Wilson (1849-1918). The parents were natives of Sweden and were married in this country in 1873, coming to Grant Township in 1880 where they farmed in Section 19. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery.
As a young woman Mrs Adams had taught several years in the country school system of Grant Township. They resided in the Adams’ house of the west side of Highway 169 in Boxholm. Mr Adams bought this lot in February of 1914. Mr Adams also served Boxholm as mayor in 1918 and 1919 during the war years. He retired from active barbering about 1948, but continued his jewelry business until the mid 1960’s, being in business in Boxholm close to 60 years. His death occurred on May 1, 1971 at the age of 86 years. Mrs Adams died on Aug 7, 1981, ages 93 years. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. His residence is currently occupied by the Jim Troutwine family and his former main street shop is currently owned by Larry Krakau who has his insurance office there. None of Mr Adams’s descendants still reside within Grant Township.

History of Boxholm and Grant Township in Boone County, Iowa 1986 by David C Peterson